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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

💚 Children’s health must be treated as a nation-building mission: safeguarded in budgets, given long-term accountability, and at the centre of national policy.

The evidence is clear: the mission can succeed, but only if prevention, equity, and children’s health are at its heart.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

🏙️ To deliver on its health mission, the government itself needs to rewire. Health can’t just sit in DHSC: it must include communities, local government, civil society, and industry.

When people most affected are part of shaping solutions, those solutions stick.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

To break the cycle, we must tackle the NHS crisis & invest in prevention.

IPPR research commissioned by @impurbanhealth.bsky.social suggests there are near-term benefits of prevention:
healthy eating➡️better school attendance
cleaner fair➡️fewer emergency admissions
safe housing➡️less pressure on NHS

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

We know there are stark health inequalities across the UK. Poor social conditions drive poor health, putting the NHS under strain:
🍔unhealthy food
🏠insecure incomes
🏚️bad housing
🌬️polluted air

This makes it even harder for government to act on the root causes.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

❤️‍🩹 This week, I spoke on a panel with @ippr.org at the Labour Party Conference, asking 'Can the government deliver its long-term health mission?'. #Lab25 🧵

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

🍇 This is an important step towards building a food system that prioritises access to healthy, affordable food for everyone.

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 6d

👏 It's great to see restrictions on promotions for unhealthy products coming into force across the country today
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Buy one, get one free' deals for unhealthy food banned in supermarkets

Crisps, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks will be covered by restrictions starting in England.

www.bbc.co.uk

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 22d

All good health interventions start with a simple action: Listening!

Learn more about our work to amplify the voices of communities most affected by air pollution: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/new...

Amplifying voices for clean air

Our Amplifying Voices strand supports the communities who are most affected by air pollution to advocate for change.

urbanhealth.org.uk

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 22d

I'm proud of @impurbanhealth.bsky.social's work to amplify the voices of communities most affected by air pollution.

In this film, Rasha Rashid from The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP) talks about why it's crucial to listen to the people most affected by air pollution 👇

Amplifying Voices: The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP)

YouTube video by Impact on Urban Health

www.youtube.com

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 27d

Learn more about how @impurbanhealth.bsky.social support organisations disproportionately affected by air pollution: urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/new...

Amplifying voices for clean air

Our Amplifying Voices strand supports the communities who are most affected by air pollution to advocate for change.

urbanhealth.org.uk

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 27d

🔥A core part of our work @impurbanhealth.bsky.social involves partnering with those who are disproportionately affected by air pollution.

In this film one of those partners, the Ella Roberta Foundation, talks about their tireless work to protect children from air pollution.
youtu.be/5xDn-UZQN-U

Amplifying Voices: Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella Roberta Foundation

YouTube video by Impact on Urban Health

youtu.be

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 28d

🎬 We've made a short film about the project, highlighting the importance of every stakeholder and the impact on the communities the network is reaching: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvpW...

Good Food Retail 2025

YouTube video by Impact on Urban Health

www.youtube.com

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 28d

Key takeaways:

🤝Collaboration is key - retailers, suppliers, wholesalers and local councils have come together on this mission
📝Evaluation - early findings show the model is working
🗺️Scaling up - from a successful pilot to 220 stores in 13 LAs - and counting!

The launch event of the Good Food Retail network. Three people are standing beside a banner with the text: GOOD FOOD RETAIL. Putting health at the heart of convenience.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 28d

🍒 Access to healthy food in the UK is incredibly unequal - and shopping at convenience stores is often the only option for children and families living on lower incomes.

🛒 The network aims to increase the flow of healthy options in local stores.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 28d

I spoke last week at the launch of the national Good Food Retail network.

👏 Our Children's health and food programme has been working with Rice Marketing for many years and it's brilliant to see the progress that's been made.

A group of people are standing and talking at the launch event of the Good Food Retail network

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · 28d

❤️‍🩹Good health is not just about hospitals. It's shaped by the air we breathe, the food we eat, our income and our housing.

🤝Govt's ambitions are good but must be matched with funding, legislation, and by working with communities to prioritise health.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on public health: if Labour is serious about reducing illness, it must focus on causes | Editorial

Editorial: A shift to prevention will only succeed if ministers take a bold approach to regulation and lift people out of poverty

www.theguardian.com

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Sep 9

🔥Want to know what the biggest sources of air pollution are in your borough?

In some boroughs (like Lambeth) burning wood is the #1 source of PM2.5. In others (like Southwark) it's construction. Find out for your borough here 👇
urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/dat...

What the latest data reveals about air pollution

As part of our commitment to equitably improving air quality, we're sharing the latest insights from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI), a crucial dataset that maps sources of air pollu...

urbanhealth.org.uk

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Aug 21

🚨The Black Food Fund are offering grants of up to £25k to fund local research that uplifts Black African and Caribbean food traditions.

❤️‍🩹Fantastic opportunity to contribute to healthier, more equitable food system in Lambeth and Southwark.
blackfood.fund

Black Food Fund

A new group of local people from Lambeth & Southwark. Giving grants to building a healthier and fairer food future for families.

blackfood.fund

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 28

The good news is air quality can be improved.

@impurbanhealth.bsky.social, we recently wrote for @bigissue.com about how Govt must equitably improve air quality:
✅Enshrine the right to breathe clean air in law
🔥Reduce domestic burning
🚛Fix the urban freight system

www.bigissue.com/opinion/labo...

How Labour can keep its promise and reduce health inequality once and for all

The government has made promising steps to reduce health inequality. Here’s what Impact on Urban Health want to see following summer recess.

www.bigissue.com

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 28

❗️Air pollution raises risk of dementia

🚨People in urban areas being exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution.

💰Royal College of Physicians: "When impacts such as dementia are accounted for, the [annual] economic cost may be as high as £50bn."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Air pollution raises risk of dementia, say Cambridge scientists

Most comprehensive study of its kind highlights dangers of vehicle emissions and woodburning stoves

www.theguardian.com

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 23

After one year in power, has the Government made any progress on its promise to address health inequality?

Delighted to see @impurbanhealth.bsky.social's Director of Policy, Influencing & Change, Mark Heffernan, analyse the Govt's progress so far: www.bigissue.com/opinion/labo...

How Labour can keep its promise and reduce health inequality once and for all

The government has made promising steps to reduce health inequality. Here’s what Impact on Urban Health want to see following summer recess.

www.bigissue.com

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 16

My key takeaways:
💪Bringing power closer to communities = solutions that are more likely to stick
📊Inequalities show up starkly in cities…
🔎…...But cities have assets that make them great places to share and learn to find answers

peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 16

Key lessons:
🚪A 'no wrong door' approach ensures that the service can be accessed in a number of ways and is open to all
📌Co-location of services is important

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 16

❓ "What does it mean to live well?" ❓

Lastly, Thomas Britton talked us through the Greater Manchester Working Well programme supporting those with poor health and complex needs to find and keep good work.

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peterbabudu.bsky.social @peterbabudu.bsky.social · Jul 16

Key lessons:
📝Need for clarity and simplicity in a complex policy environment
🤝Work proactively with other depts internally so all can realise health co-benefits and mitigate harms

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